2023 GOVERNORSHIP SUCCESSOR TO WIKE

By Our Reporter

For Nyesom Wike, retaining key foot soldiers inside populous Local Government areas in the state will help in determining who succeeds him in office. For instance, his home front Obio/Akpor Local Government Area with over 60 per cent voting strength in Rivers state because of high population density of migrant business owners in the oil and gas sector as host to majority of multinational Oil Companies such as Shell Petroleum Development company SPDC, Nigerian Agip Oil company NAOC, TotalFinaElf Producing Oil company and other ancillary Oil Service companies of which Obio/Akpor LGA derives much internally generated Revenue. He had the erstwhile Chairman Solomon Abel Eke replaced with Barrister George Ariolu, a formidable Wike loyalist. While in Ahoada West Local Government area he has former Rivers state House of Assembly member, Honourable Hope Ikiriko retained and in Emohua LGA the strong politician Julius Chidi Lloyd PhD a Law Lecturer at University of Nigeria Enugu campus and former majority Leader in the Rivers State House Assembly taking over as elected Chairman of Emohua LGA with Honourable Tom Aliezi shown the way out. In Ikwerre Local Government Area Wike outsmart former Governor Celestine Omehia as he never joked with loyalty and competence as he retained Samuel Nwanosike PhD, a doctorate degree holder in Risk Management Project from University of Port Harcourt. In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area where former Chairman of PDP in Rivers state Brother Felix Obuah hails from Wike maneuvered him to have Honourable Vincent Job Nwaobakata a native of Omoku town replace former chairman Ifeanyi Odili from Ndoni District. Again, in Gokana LGA Wike struggled with his former Secretary To State Government SSG and former Minister of Investment Honourable Kenneth Kobani outplayed as Honourable Confidence Dekoo took over from Paul Kobani.  Long lasting Tai LGA chairman, Dr. Jacobson Nbina a hardworking technocrat dropped while Okpe Friday was selected in his place by the Governor. In Etche Local Government Area another high population density Voting area, it was another kettle of fish as South -South Political Octopus chief Allwell Henacho Onyesoh choice never scaled through as Governor Wike who has plan B in 2023 for replacing Senator George Thompson Sekibo in the Senate of which he knows is Etche ethnic nationality’s slot he had to placate Etche strongman Chief Elder Emma Anyanwu by returning his son Obinna Anyanwu as Chairman of Etche LGA. In Akuku Toru LGA, Wike’s plan of making his current Secretary To state Government SSG, Barrister Tamunobaabo Wenike Danagogo a doctorate degree Law graduate popularly addressed as TAMMY Governor in 2023 was sealed with the return of the incumbent Roland Sekibo a known loyalist to Dr. Tammy Danagogo a native of Abonnema the York City of Rivers state. For Oyigbo LGA an Igbo dominated community the Rivers state where PDP state chapter Chairman Ambassador Desmond Akawor hails from, governor Wike removed Ambassador Akawor’s loyalist incumbent Chairman Honourable Gerald Oforji, the son of late Rivers state House of Assembly member Prince Oforji and replaced him with his own choice.